The internet has created new norms.
In class we discussed some of the new norms such as “Facebook friends” vs.
friend friends, cyber-bullying, hacking, and online education. We also briefly
discussed the new norm of online dating. Just two decades ago, online dating
did not exist but it has grown into a billion dollar industry. Online dating
has become popular because of its ease and convenience. In class we discussed
that one of the negative aspects about the internet is that it allows society
to be lazy. We have replaced several activities and began simply Googling,
Binging, Yahooing, or Youtubing everything! The internet has eliminated
face-to-face socializing and given us cyber socializing. Studies show that
although online dating is more convenient, it is not and will not ever be most effective.
Thousands of websites like eHarmony.com, match.com, ZOOSK.COM,
ChristiansMingle.com, and OurTime.com claim to be able to match soul mates
based on certain algorithms. I researched several scientific experiments about
online dating and they all basically said the same the same thing: there is not
scientific proof that the algorithms online dating websites use actually work.
The algorithms they claim to have are faulty. If they do have them and if they
do work, the majority of people on online dating websites are not truthfully
answering the survey questions on the online dating websites. This is another
topic that came up in our class discussion. We concluded that most people
pretend to be someone they are not on the internet. This is not surprising to
me because I believe that when someone is trying to date, they are never completely
themselves. They are trying to put their best foot forward. However, the
internet does make it easier to do so. Perhaps this is the “convenience” singles
keep talking about regarding online dating. Online dating gives you more time
and control to decided what someone sees, knows, and learns about you. The
internet gives the person behind the computer, cell phone, and tablet screen
more control than they would have in person. Although the convenience may seem
to be helping those seeking companionship, it is harming them in the long run. Online
dating gives companionship seekers an abundance of lying opportunities, it concentrates
on cyber interaction/affection, and brainwashes singles to think they are met
for each other based on a silly test. The internet has given society both
beneficial and negative norms. In my opinion, online dating falls into the
negative category.
I believe that, like many of the technological inventions of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, there are many positives as well as negatives to the internet and online dating. Firstly, as you mentioned, the positives of the internet would include convenience and access to knowledge. Our world today would be vastly different if we could not, for example, look up any factual information within thirty seconds. However, the lack of face-to-face interaction leads to decreased validity and integrity on the internet, such as in online dating.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments about online dating, in that there more of a chance that someone will lie about themselves over the internet for the sake of finding a willing partner. In fact, your argument reminds me of a topic we covered a couple of weeks ago concerning what makes a human a human. The algorithms that you referenced in your post are parallel to the argument of whether or not scientists can predict human behavior upon examination of the brain. I do not believe that the algorithms present in eHarmony or Match.com can truly make a match for someone, simply based upon a questionnaire. Especially at this point in our knowledge of the human brain, we do not have enough ability to fully make a match based on such topical information. Yes, these sites can make guesses. But when you pair the margin of error of these guesses with the possible error that must be considered in the other person's report of themselves, dating sites have almost no chance of success.